March of the undead: Zombies out in numbers in downtown Rochester

ROCHESTER — It would seem the Lilac City was overcome by the living dead on Friday night, when a large line of locals dressed as zombies staggered through the city.

For Rochester's second annual Zombie Walk, both young and old got dressed as zombies, covered their faces and limbs with fake blood, and strolled creepily through the center of Rochester, led by tiki torches and the local police.

The Zombie Walk began at Union Street and ended at Rochester Common, where the event wrapped up with a large bonfire.

The zombie-dressed locals did their walk through North and South main streets, where they were met with a line of observers celebrating Halloween.

During the Zombie Walk, performers from four dance schools — Corinne's School of Dance, Dance in Motion, Sole City Dance, and Studio 109 — performed Michael Jackson's "Thriller" several times during the parade.

Dover resident Coeli Hoover, an adult dancer from Corinne's School of Dance, said her studio began working on the "Thriller" choreography three weeks ago, before all four schools rehearsed the dance together last Sunday.

Hoover said she participated in this year's event because she did the Zombie Walk last year, and loved it.

"It was fun to scare people and growl," said Hoover, who was dressed as a zombie cheerleader. "We couldn't wait to do this again this year."

Ten-year-old Dakota Tripp, of North Berwick, Maine, said that although he got slightly scared when one zombie startled him with a growl, his mood got more upbeat when the dance crew broke into the "Thriller" dance.

"First I thought they were going to spook me again, but then they started dancing," said Tripp. "It was pretty good."

For Rochester resident Melody McCune, 35, who participated in the parade as one of the nondancing zombies with a group of friends, the best part was, "everybody dancing together and not being afraid to be scary for the night."

"We all came as the same thing — dead," said McCune.

McCune said she found out about the event last minute through a flier, and had invited her friends to dress up and go along with her for the Zombie Walk.

"I thought it would be really fun to do this together," said McCune's friend, Farmington resident Cheri Ouellette, 32, who walked in the parade dressed as a zombie cop. Ouellette's fiance, Cory Merrill, 33, was dressed as a zombie convict.

Whether participants were dancing or not, the Zombie Walk was a chance for locals to make new friends. During the march, McCune and her friends had met locals Dakota Clifford, of Strafford, and Stephanie Toothaker, of Rochester.

"It was pretty fun, I'm going to do this again next year," said Toothaker, 17, who said next time she is planning to come dressed as a zombie bride.

Somersworth resident Matt Lucas, 35, came to the Zombie Walk to spend time with his children, Skylyne, 12, Ashley, 10, and Kearra, 7.

"I really enjoyed seeing the smiles on their faces," said Lucas.

Although Kearra said that the zombies had scared her, Skylyne said the parade was "really cool."

"I liked how they were dancing, it was kind of weird," said Skylyne.

Dover residents Paige Lindsay-Mangels, 15, and Cassandra Kleeberg, 15, said that compared to last year's Zombie Walk, this year's event was bigger.

"There were a lot more people walking," said Lindsay-Mangels.

After the Zombie Walk, dozens of locals gathered for the bonfire during the chilly night.

The event was underwritten by Laconia Savings Bank.

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